Brad Inger reviews the Round 19 clash between the Raiders and the Warriors at GIO Stadium; here’s how the match went.
MATCHDAY RESULTS
SCOREBOARD
Raiders 26
Tries: Albert Hopoate 41, Sebastian Kris 59, Corey Harawira-Naera 64, 67
Goals: Jamal Fogarty 60, 65, 68, 73
Warriors 14
Tries: Jack Murchie 2, Daejarn Asi 7
Goals: Shaun Johnson 4, 8, 26
MATCH REPORT
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Warriors burst out of the gates quickly, earning a penalty and a repeat set before former Raider Jack Murchie took a short ball and barged his way over the try-line. They continued to pile on the pressure when Daejarn Asi crossed for their second try after Xavier Savage failed to defuse a monster bomb.
The Raiders were given a penalty on the Warrior’s try line when Jack Wighton was held back after putting a kick into the in-goal; however, they could not take advantage of the field possession as the visitor’s goal-line defence held firm.
The Warriors added to their lead after Shaun Johnson kicked a penalty from 40 metres out in the 26th minute after showing some great spirit, defending multiple Raiders attacking opportunities. However, Canberra were not helping themselves, making several errors with the ball in hand, which saw the home side go into the break scoreless.
The Raiders looked a more composed side when they returned from the sheds, Wighton kicked a 40/20 in the first set, and after a few close calls, the Raiders finally found success when they scored in the corner via Albert Hopoate minutes later.
After the game went into a stalemate, the Raiders took control of the match after Jazz Tevaga lost the ball with a bit of help from Corey Harawira-Naera; the New Zealand side’s defence was unable to hold Sebastian Kris out as he latched onto a short-ball to score. Wighton then kicked another 40/20, and the Raiders found themselves in front for the first time in the match after Harawira-Naera ran into a massive hole and crossed the try line untouched. Harawira-Naera made it a double a few minutes later, diving on Jamal Fogarty’s grubber just before it went over the dead-ball line.
Harawira-Naera looked certain for a hattrick after diving on a Reece Walsh knock-on, but the bunker deemed that the forward lost control of the ball; Walsh then gave away a penalty for kicking the goal-line drop-out out on the full, which saw Fogarty extend the lead to 12 with a penalty kick in the final scoring play of the game for a well deserved come from behind victory for the home side.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 pts – Jack Wighton (Raiders), 2 pts – Corey Harawira-Naera (Raiders), 1 pt – Tohu Harris (Warriors)
Follow Nothing But League on Facebook.
